Early Law School Admission Program

What is the advantage of early law school admission? 

The Early Law School Admission Program (ELSAP) saves a whole year of studies. A student can get their bachelor's and J.D. degrees in six years instead of seven, because the first year of law school counts towards the undergraduate degree.

Who can apply?

Only full-time freshmen taking classes on campus are eligible to apply for candidacy in the Early Law School Admission Program. Transfer students and online students are not eligible.

How do I apply?

Meet with the pre-law advisor as soon as possible during your freshman year. You will join the Pre-Law Society, a student organization, and be enrolled in a zero credit course online. In your second semester of your freshman year, if you meet the requisite requirements for candidacy for ELSAP, you may apply for admission to the program by contacting the pre-law advisor.

Is there an extra fee to apply? 

There is no additional fee to apply to ELSAP.

What are the program requirements?

For admission to a partner law school, candidates must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA through their junior year at RMU and make appropriate academic progress as determined by the pre-law advisory. They must also be active members of the RMU Pre-Law Society. Finally, they must take the LSAT following their third year at RMU and receive a score above the threshold, as determined by each partner law school.

Can I select any partner law school?

Yes. However, each partner law school has its own unique criteria for an ELSAP candidate to be admitted. Candidates for the program should thoroughly review with the RMU coordinator the admission requirements for each partner law school in order to determine which partner law school is best for each candidate.

How well do I have to do on the LSAT?

Candidates in ELSAP are not automatically accepted to a partner law school, but must receive high enough LSAT scores to satisfy each partner law school’s criteria. ELSAP candidates will receive help in preparing for the LSAT and receive other advice from the RMU pre-law advisor concerning the application process.

What if I do not get a high enough LSAT score?

Candidates in the program who are not accepted finish out their final year at Robert Morris in their degree program. They can apply for law school during or after their completion of their final year. 

During the fourth year, am I a RMU student or a law school student, if I am attending a partner law school? 

For the fourth year of the program (their first year in law school), students are enrolled in law school, but they are still categorized as undergraduate students, even though they are law students paying regular law school standard graduate tuition and fees. They remain active students as far as RMU is concerned, retaining their RMU email and library privileges. If they wish, students may continue to live on the RMU campus for the fourth year.

Am I eligible for financial aid?

Students enrolled in the 3+3 law program are typically eligible to receive undergraduate level financial aid while at RMU. This may include federal, state, and/or institutional scholarship aid. Once enrolled at the partner institution, the student should be considered graduate level for financial aid purposes, as determined by the other institution. Additional financial aid policy wording regarding accelerated programs can be found here."

Do my grades in law school affect my RMU grade point average?

No. Law school courses are transfer credits, which do not affect GPA.

When do I get my bachelor's degree?

Students get their undergraduate degree four years after they matriculate at RMU. They walk with their class at commencement, with a year of law school already completed.